Food is the one thing that most people do seem to care a lot about when flying. Perhaps because it is a major event in an otherwise mind numbingly boring experience, and regardless of whether you are hungry or not, it is all too easy to say yes to the many times you are encouraged to eat. Whether it is breakfast on offer when you were convinced it should be dinner, hardly matters. On my recent flight between London and Sydney, I had two breakfasts, a lunch and two dinners over two legs, one of 11 hours and the other 8 hours with an interval of four hours in the lounge. How that happened is beyond me. What I should have done is to say ‘No!” and on a previous occasion when I refused all meals and simply slept, I left the flight feeling fine- actually feeling wonderful! Now there’s a lesson to be remembered…
So unless the food is gourmet style in the manner of the sadly departed Australian Ansett Airlines, when you had your own personal chef who cooked your choice to order, it is best to be selective and make sure you don’t overeat. The kind of service Ansett offered disappeared a long time ago along with the gold plated taps in the toilets. On the other hand today’s most highly rated airlines do offer the kind of quality in dining that only first class in the 1990s could hope for. It is the same message as before really, if you pay more or get upgraded to tempt you for future flights, meals will be a more pleasurable occasion. Bit if that is low priority for you then just don’t eat- take along some kitkats and fruit and make sure you eat it all before you are accosted in Australian customs for inflicting damage on the delicate agricultural economy. Beware the cute hush puppy who can as soon scent a furtive satsuma and a wad of dope.